Pink Saturday/Spiritual Sunday - Family Tradition...What's Important?

Don't forget to stop by How Sweet The Sound to read about lots of PINK traditions on December 19 and lots of inspiration at  Spiritual Sundays on December 20!

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year, always has been.  First of all, I am a Believer, that is I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior, so Christmas is valued the most as the day Jesus was born on Earth in order to die on Earth.  I've always loved Christmas trees and lights and just the excitement and cheer surrounding the holiday.  But the older I get, the more I appreciate it for the right reasons.  Sometimes you learn the most valuable lessons through experiences you believe at the time to be the most terrible losses.

A tradition my husband and I had for many years was our Christmas party.  When I was a young wife and mother I was a perfectionist work-a-holic.  I kept a spotless house, I volunteered for every committee and job I could find at church, and I was a maniac at entertaining.  Let me just say, not to blow my own horn or anything, but a party I could give, and lots of them!  Our Christmas party was attended by about 100-120 people every December.  I prepared for months.  I started cleaning at Halloween (even removing the light fixtures to clean underneath!) and I started decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. Then I
baked, packaged, and froze from Thanksgiving until the party date.  I always served hot and cold hor d'ouvres, then a hot buffet, followed by a dessert buffet - I always baked 12 dozen cookies, plus tarts, cakes, cheese cakes, and candy.  Of course in addition to the entertaining, I shopped and did all the family preparations for Christmas as well.  I LOVED working and cleaning and ironing.  I know, weird...maybe even a little crazy!  I prided myself on my clean house and my organization.  Plus, I worked full time as an administrative assistant.  I could out work any woman I knew.  But most of all, I loved entertaining.  Our Christmas party was just the highlight of my year and Christmas holiday. 

Our Christmas party was just the highlight of my year and Christmas holiday. Hmmm.  What's wrong with that statement?  Didn't I start by writing "I am a Believer, that is I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior, so Christmas is valued the most as the day Jesus was born on Earth in order to die on Earth" ???  Why, yes I did.  So what happened to remind me of what I should really value?  I got sick.  I do not believe God punishes us by making us sick or allowing bad things to happen.  But I do believe that God allows us to learn valuable lessons enabling spiritual growth through some of life's most traumatic events.

About fifteen years ago I began to develop some weird illnesses out of the blue.  I was hospitalized multiple times for odd ball serious things like meningitis and unusual pneumonia's.  I developed arthritis.  I developed an overwhelming fatigue and was almost never well.  I eventually had to quit my job and I could no longer work at home as I always had.  I saw doctor after doctor but it was only 4 years ago, two days before Thanksgiving, that I received a diagnosis.  I have a very rare white blood cell abnormality which effects my health and energy in general.  The silver lining in this storm cloud is that there is a treatment.  The unpleasant part of the treatment is that it is an IV infusion at a chemo clinic every three weeks.  Every three weeks of my life.  As long as I live.  So long, party queen, hello 110 year old hag.  That's how I felt when I got this diagnosis.

To make a long story short, I had a chest port implanted and I have been receiving infusions every three weeks for almost four years.  I hate every minute of every treatment and I resent the intrusion in my life.  But having said that, I know how blessed I am.  There is a treatment for my disease and it is working.  Is life the same as it used to be?  Nope, far from it.  The treatment itself often makes me sick for days.  I have about two good weeks out of four.  Even with the treatment I still get sick a lot.  I still have arthritis.  I have a 400 times greater risk of developing lymphoma than people who do not have my disease.  Life is very different for me and for my family now because of this hateful disease, but has it ruined my life?  To the contrary, the lessons I've learned these last four years have blessed my life.

Priorities.  Don't we all want to set the right priorities?  I know I did.  And I thought I had.  But really, did I need to remove the light fixtures from the ceilings in order for guest to enjoy my Christmas buffet?  Did my kitchen floor really require a toothbrush scrubbing so 120 guests could walk over it during a Michigan winter?  And did my guests actually notice that every room in my house had at least one Christmas tree - each one following a perfectly matched theme?  Did our extended family members appreciate the elaborate hand made gifts I created for them each year or the packages wrapped as if they came from the finest shops?  Did any of these things hold a fraction of the importance I thought they did?

It's taken me four years to get to a place where I can say that I am truly more content than I have ever been in my life.  For me, it took a serious illness to teach me the truly valuable things in life.  I still like a clean house - even sick I can out work half the women I know!  The difference is, I don't have to work until one or two in the morning to feel ok about myself.  I am still a perfectionist, but now I usually know when to stop.  I'm ok with a store bought gift just like every body else and this year I don't even have bows on my packages!  Yikes - I can't believe I said that!  I don't spend sleepless nights making mental lists of things I need to do the next day.  I can enjoy watching a movie sitting down rather than only while doing dishes or ironing.  Most importantly, I spend time of true worship and prayer during each day.  I can allow myself to drop everything and leave a job half finished to spontaneously go to a movie with my husband or babysit my granddaughters or sit down and really enjoy a guiltless phone conversation with my daughter or my mom or a friend. I see the value in things I used to view as wasted time.  This Christmas Day my husband and I will sit around our family room with our son and daughter-in-law, our daughter and son-in-law, and our two granddaughters.  We will go around the room, each one opening one bowless gift at a time, lavishing in the joy of the moment.  There will be no rushing to pick up wrapping paper, no obsessive gathering of coffee cups and cinnamon roll plates.  This family tradition will add new pages in our book of cherished family memories. 

TIME...LOVE...FAMILY 

When I learned of my diagnosis and the nature of this progressive disease, I thought my life as I knew it was over.  Well, it was.  But what I thought was going to be the most terrible loss of my life has turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of my life.  Don't misunderstand me, I really wish I didn't have this disease!  But that's just the way the cookie crumbles.  I do have it and I am doing just fine.  Better than fine, I have learned to trust God with every aspect of my life.  God never fails and He never makes a mistake.  He knew exactly what he was doing when he made me with too few white blood cells.  And He also knew I wouldn't be happy about it!  He knew He was going to help me see beauty in a more simple life and He knew I would see more opportunities to praise Him and to witness for Him. 

I'll finish this post with some pictures of our home decorated for Christmas.  We're not having a party, but we are celebrating.  It's almost Jesus' birthday!

I am wishing each of you a blessed Christmas with those you love and a new year filled with joy!

How Do You Perceive Beauty?

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed the musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried on to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a three year old boy. His mother tagged him along hurriedly but the child stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head to see the musician as he walked. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only six people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

What no onlooker knew was that the musician they chose not to see was none other than famous violinist Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. In the subway that day he had played one of the most intricate pieces ever written for the violin, worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell performed at a sold out theater in Boston at $100 a seat.

This is a true story and test of how we perceive beauty in our world. The experiment involving Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people.

The test guidelines - a common place environment at an inappropriate hour:

Do we perceive beauty when we see it?

Do we stop to appreciate it?

Do we recognize beauty in an unexpected context?

How many things of beauty do you miss in life because you fail to recognize it?

The Buzzard, The Bat, and The Bumblebee

Be sure to visit Spiritual Sundays and Praise and Worship Sunday to find many inspirational posts!

How Great Is Our God - Chris Tomlin

THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from
the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly,
but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place.  If it is placed on the floor or flat ground all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom..
It will seek a way where none exists until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard,  the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! And that's the answer, the escape route, and the solution to any problem! Just look up.

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up! How great is our God!

Have a beautiful new week everyone!

Lellow's Gone

From the moment I found out I was going to be a grandmother for the first time I had a deep bond with that precious baby girl. I was born to be a grandmother! I've always known it - even when I was a young mother. So imagine my joy in March 2004 when my dream come true was born! Sydney was a preemie and had to be re-admitted to the hospital when she was home for just a few days. Our daughter was just in miserable shape with a kidney infection so my husband and I convinced our son-in-law to take our daughter home to recover in bed and we stayed with our first precious grandchild for the first couple of days she was back in the hospital. She nearly died. She couldn't be admitted to the nursery because she had already been released. She was placed in a tiny room alone. Sydney had very little body fat so she could not maintain a healthy body temperature. I'll never forget how hot it was in that room! The temperature was set at 90 degrees in order to keep her warm enough, even though she was under a couple of lights to treat her jaundice. This poor baby was the most fragile thing I'd ever touched - it was like holding a bag full of marbles...all skin and bones. She was born before the sucking instinct is fully developed so she couldn't bottle feed very well. We were told we could not speak near her or touch her except for at specific times when the nurses unhooked her from some of the things attached to her in order to change her diaper and to have a bottle feeding lesson. They wanted her to have total sedation and rest in order to recover. So "Papa" and I sat in that room watching over our little baby bird for two days.

Sydney never opened her eyes or responded a single time - until the second night. The nurse asked if I would like to change and feed Sydney - you know I jumped at the chance! As I held her to my chest as tightly as I dared, two precious blue bird eyes opened up and met mine in a deep, knowing stare. Both my husband and I melted in a flood of tears. We KNEW at that moment she was ok. For the first time we could see life in that sweet baby's face. I said to Sydney, "there you are, Love" and she gently closed her eyes and slept in my arms. That moment remains one of the most precious, cherished moments of my life!

Now five years later, we celebrate Sydney's 5th birthday. She has grown to be a healthy, bright, inquisitively, busy little girl and we are so grateful to God that He brought her into our lives!

Sydney now has a PRECIOUS little sister whom Mimi also adores, but that's another story for July!

Oh! I almost forgot...about lellow. Sydney's favorite color has always been "lellow". I LOVE that she said lellow. I asked Sydney on her birthday what her favorite color is, just to hear her say it. And she said YELLOW. Oh, my...lellow's gone. Darn it, now it'll only be a week or two until my little blue bird wants a lellow car!

Here's a poem I wrote for Sydney as her first birthday approached.

I Always Knew You

As long as I can remember, I have waited for you.
I knew you would be the one to fill the garden,
To clear the clouds always from the sun,
To overflow the cup of joy.
The moment I was told you were coming, I knew you would fill any vacant place…
A baby button picture held my heart in it’s grasp.
Tiny shoes waited for your feet.
As I watched you emerge from your mother,
As I sat by your bed those first tenuous days and nights -
I knew it was you, as I watched and waited.
The moment of true recognition, of knowing, came as a gift in a dark, hot hospital room.
You opened your eyes, then deep pools of gray, and looked directly into my own tired weepy eyes
As if to say, “Yes, it’s me. I’m here. I’m your heart.”
At that moment, my heart continued to beat only because of the gray.
“There you are, Love” I answered aloud.
Our two hearts swirled and danced together as one,
In that ancient miracle of bonding between grandmother and grandchild.
It was a rare moment when the world stood still while a single bud opened to full, instant bloom - A moment of clear recognition, who you were at that moment and who I would be to you.
You, the one who would cause the birds to sing, the sky to be blue, the rose to smell sweet,
And I, the one to share them all with you.
You awakened the grandmother always in my soul.

The first year has nearly passed, just as the pages of a dearly loved book are turned.
Slowly at first, the story laying its foundation in a tiny body, a first smile, a giggle.
Then building intensity, sheer delight, as each page becomes more enticing than the one before.
Your head full of dark hair turning to corn silk,
And the gray pools which first held my gaze now dance in a melody of bright blue surf.
Your trade mark baby cheeks have softened to the delicacy of a tiny girl.
Arms and legs, once weak and helpless, are now strong and determined…
Climbing, crawling, standing, pulling, ringing, clutching, clapping, patting, wiggling -
Living.
Dancing to your own rhythm, demanding to be you.
Inquisitive play, excited chatter, a toothy grin, endless pat-a-cake, soft drooling kisses.
The pages of our book come alive each time you see me for the first time and your face electrifies.
A double toothed grin spreads your face to sheer delight,
Your eyes sparkling with yet unspoken baby-heart love, the story always holding me bondage!

New tales of wonder will read from a new chapter…
A second year prevails.
Days of sun and shells, perpetual motion, captured hearts, independent ringing.
It will all be laced with familiarity.
Because as long as I can remember - I waited for you, I wore you in my heart.
My girl.
And I always knew it would be you, my Sydney Bell.

Mimi & Sydney at the beach last summer

Happy birthday, sweet girl. You're my sunshine!

The Rules of Chocolate

The Rules of Chocolate

If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite and you'll eat less.

A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?

If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

Money talks. Chocolate sings.

Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.

Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? Because no one wants to quit.

Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.

Chocolate is a health food. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived either from sugar beets or cane, both vegetables. And, of course, the milk/cream is dairy. So eat more chocolate to meet the dietary requirements for daily vegetable and dairy intake.

Every Woman Deserves A Little Chocolate!

Thankful!

THANKFULNESS...
How often we overlook the numberless things and people in our lives in which we might count as blessings, to hold on to when life gets difficult, to be truly thankful for. Nanette at A Tale of Magical Memories is hosting a thankful giveaway. The challenge is to list 6-10 things we are thankful for. That's easy! After you post (including her cute button above), you e-mail her at nswhiting@frontiernet.net to let her know you want to participate.

Joyce, at Brookside Cottage is hosting "30 Days of Giving Thanks". I'd like to use #2 in the list below for my Day 2 entry.

I had actually been thinking about this as Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and the holiday season begins. So, I decided to participate in Nanette's and Joyce's challenges.

1. My husband is a good husband by any one's standards, but he is often called to go above and beyond the call of duty! He faithfully drives me to my infusions every three weeks and refuses to leave me, even though I am in a hospital surrounded by doctors and nurses. He drives me home, puts me to bed, and waits on me hand and foot until I am on my feet again. What a guy! I'm incredibly thankful for my devoted husband of 38 years.

2. My house - I adore it. It's not very large by modern standards, it's 36 years old, and it is jam packed - but it represents US. We had our home built when we were married a year and a half - we were just kids. We moved in on December 22 and we did not have a stick of furniture - just a Christmas tree and a mattress on the floor. But we thought we had a castle. We've brought two babies home to our little house and now two little granddaughters have brought more joy and laughter to us and to it than we ever dreamed possible. During these days of difficult times in our country ANY home is a gift, but our home is a blessing which brings us much joy, because it is filled with love and joyous memories.

3. I have always known I was born to be a grandmother. I waited a long time to become a mother and I adored having children still at home. But my grand babies - oh, my goodness, I can't think of much I could be MORE grateful or thankful for! Two beautiful, healthy baby girls...blessings incomparable!

4. Mothers always want what is best for their children, what will make their babes happy. I prayed from before I first held my sweet girl and boy in my arms for their future spouses. I prayed they would find a match with whom they would share a lifetime of love, contentment, children, happiness, and Spiritual growth. Both of my babies have found loves with whom I believe with all my heart they will share a lifetime of happiness with - the things I asked God for in my heartfelt prayers. Our son-in-law is a wonderful man of God, father to our grandchildren, husband to our daughter. Our future daughter-in-law is beautiful in every way. She loves our son and makes him a better man. She is kind and giving. She is nurturing and I believe she will be a loving mother. Let's face it, we all think our children are pretty special - that's easy. But I am incredibly thankful that I can rest well in the knowledge that the hearts of my children are held by trustworthy people who love them as much as I do!

5. Memories - what would life be after all, if we could not live again the joys of yesterday? A wedding day, childbirth, a first home, sun bathing hand in hand, noisy road trips, Christmases, baking cookies, a daughter bride, precious newborn midnight feedings, family private jokes...etc, etc, etc! I'm so thankful for the memories of my marriage, my children, grandchildren, and friendships!

6. I am so thankful for a church that teaches from the Word of God, not the word of man! We have attended churches over the years where clothing or hair or income make up the worth of a human being. Many people and many churches are tied up in appearances and man made rules. At this point in our lives, my husband and I are not interested in wasting time with that sort of nonsense. Life is short. We want to worship our God. We want to sit under a pastor who will accurately teach from the Bible and where true worship happens! How thankful I am that we have found such a place.

7. I have had lots of casual friends in my life and many acquaintances. But I've had a few very true blue friends. I'm so thankful for Anne, Linda, Carolyn, and especially my sister-in-law and dearest friend in the world, Jeri.

8. I don't live close to the beach and I don't get there more than twice a year, but I find more peace and joy at the beach than any place else I can think of, other than my own little home. When I am blessed enough to walk on the sand in and out of the surf, I find myself in an almost constant state of worship. The sea itself, so incredibly representative of God's creation! The surf and the moon, in a waltz to keep the globe afloat! It's very sound, music directly from God it seems to me! A natural Eco balance only God could have created. The sand - how many billions of billions of grains of sand are there? Sea birds - natural fishers, graceful in their beauty. The mindless pleasure of selecting shells to cherish all year long. The beach is a source of great joy and thankfulness in my life.

9. Ok, I have to say it. I'm thankful for sugar!

10. My God - even though He is the most important thing in my life, I have curiously listed Him last. I think, because none of the above would be even remotely possible without faith in God and His unending love for me. I cannot express my thankfulness for the Savior!

Lessons From the Seasons

I found this story a few years ago and I liked the gentle reminder that people nor life should be judged too quickly! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Lessons From the Seasons of Life

An Indian Chief had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, each in his own turn, to go to observe a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first and oldest son went in the Winter, the second son went in the Spring, the third son went in Summer, and the youngest son went in the Fall.

After all four sons had completed the journey to observe the distant pear tree the Indian chief called them together to describe what they had seen and learned.

The first and oldest son, who made the winter journey, said the tree was a bitter disappointment - ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son, who journeyed to see the pear tree in Spring was astounded. He said the tree was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son, who traveled in the Summer, glowingly described the pear tree as laden with blossoms that smelled incredibly sweet and looked so beautiful. It was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The youngest son, who saw the pear tree in the Fall, disagreed with all of them. He said the tree was the picture of fulfillment. The branches were drooping with fruit, ripe with life.

The four sons argued over who was correct in his observation of the pear tree. The chief then explained to his sons that they were all right because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

The father told his sons that a tree, a person, or a life cannot be judged by only one season. The very essence of who a person is and the pleasure, joy, love, and success that come from that life can only be measured at the end of all the seasons.

The Indian chief’s lesson to his sons is this:
If you give up when it's Winter, you will miss the promise of Spring, the beauty of Summer, and the fulfillment of Fall.

Moral:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the remaining seasons of life.

Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches as better times are sure to come.

Happiness makes you content, trials make you strong, sorrows make you human, failures make you humble, success makes you hopeful.

But it is God who makes all the seasons together worthwhile.

Friendship - Not Always What You Expect

Today is Friday Show & Tell, hosted by Kelli at No Place Like Home. Go there to find a list of participants and many wonderful postings!

When I was growing up we lived in a big old house in an old neighborhood. One day when I was in 9th grade, I walked home from school passing a large brick house at the end of our block. A
tiny, wrinkled silver haired woman called out to me from an upstairs window, "Hey you, the girl with the golden hair! Come in and sit with me." I did so and it changed my life for one special year. Almost every day that school year I heard the familiar call and I was happy to spend an hour or so with my new friend. She made cookies in anticipation of my visits and we had many wonderful talks almost every day that school year. As the school year neared it's end my special friend started sending me home with gifts. One afternoon she asked me to bring my father back with a truck - she said she had a gift for me I couldn't carry home. So my father and I did as instructed. We were on our way home shortly afterward with an antique bedroom set - a four poster bed, a dresser, a desk, and a large mirror. It is the bedroom set my husband and I started our marriage with and I still have the dresser, desk, and mirror - the bed broke beyond repair within a few years - ok, you can stop laughing now!

Here is the mirror, hanging now in my art room.

Not long after the day I received the bedroom furniture my friend sent me home with a lamp, pictured below. As it turns out, it is a German Dresden lamp. I have not been able to find it listed anywhere with an exact year or value.

This is my sweet Dresden lamp.

Within weeks of the day I carried that precious gift home I approached my friend's house for my daily visit and was met by her nephew. My sweet friend had passed away while I was at school. I had never seen him before but he called me "the girl with the golden hair". It seems the wonderful hours spent with my friend were just as meaningful to her as they were to me. I remain convinced that my dear, lonely friend knew her life was nearly finished. I still feel honored that she chose me, an unfamiliar teenager, to share her last year with and to gift with treasured items of her marriage.

I guess the moral of the story here is, never discount a potential friendship not matter how ill paired you seem to be! You may find a cherished friend and incomparable memories.

Music and Memories

I happen to be one of those people who really enjoy music on my blog page. I wasn't sure I would before I added it, because let's face it...no matter how much you love "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" there might be a limit to how often you want to hear it! And as all of you devoted bloggers know, keeping a blog page up to date takes a fair amount of time so you could end up hearing it until you want to join Dorothy over the rainbow! I decided to give the music thing a try on my page anyway and I have decided that it's for me! I thought it might be interesting to explain though, because the song choices may seem like an odd mix! I love each of the songs listed for specific reasons.

1. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" performed by Eva Cassidy

A few years ago I decided to make up a questioner of sorts for my family at Christmas. We all meet at my parents home in Tennessee after Christmas and since there are a lot of people to keep entertained for several days I thought it would be fun to let everyone share their thoughts and idea on a large range of subjects. One of the questions was for each person to share their all time two favorite songs. Even though we had never told each other before, I and all of my siblings listed Somewhere Over the Rainbow as one of our all time favorite songs. After that, a song I had always thought was beautiful, took on new meaning. It was a shared connection between myself and my brother and two sisters.

2. "How Beautiful" - performed by Twila Paris

This song is gorgeous because of it's soft melody and Twila Paris' sweet voice. But if you listen to the words you will find that they are representative of God's love and sacrifice for us and the family His followers make together.

3. "Brown Eyed Girl" - performed by Van Morrison

When my husband and I were dating this song was popular. He sang it to me constantly because my eyes were brown-er then! Every time I hear it today I remember those sweet days of dating and being engaged and my sweetheart singing to me.

4. "Redeemer" - performed by Nicole C. Mullen

I adore this song, first, because it completely expresses what I believe spiritually. Secondly, just listen to this girl sing...incredible!

5. "Home" - performed by Michael Buble

My daughter loves Michael Buble. She gave me a CD of his music simply because she loved it and wanted to share its beauty with me. That is reason enough for me to choose his music. But this particular song is about the healing quality of home. There is no place I long to be more than home when things are not as they should be.

6. "Under the Boardwalk" - performed by The Drifters

Ah, the Drifters! Another one of those dating songs. My husband and I loved this one. Then when our daughter Julie had her 16th birthday we had a Sweet 16 party for her in our backyard and they must have played this song a million times. I think the girls thought it was a chance to slow dance with boys!

7. "Chances Are" - performed by Johnny Mathis

Who doesn't love Johnny Mathis? Ok, lots of people according to my family! Well, I DO love him and I always have. Even when I was a teenager his albums were right there mixed in with my Beatle albums! "Chances Are" was sung at our wedding.

8. "12th of Never" - performed by Johnny Mathis

Also sung at our wedding. We had a friend who's voice could pass for the real Johnny so he sang at our wedding and reception. My husband and I have decided to dance to this song at our sons wedding.

9. "Moon River" - performed by Andy Williams
Andy Williams is also one of those men you just can't not like if you are at least in your 50's! Moon River is just a beautiful song and I can remember my father singing it with his beautiful voice around the house.

10. "Come Away With Me" - performed by Nora Jones

The first time I visited my oldest friend after she had tragically lost her husband we must have listened to this song hundreds of times. For some reason it just felt comforting to both of us. Instead of being reminded of a painful time of loss, this song reminds me of a time my oldest and best girlfriend and I sat in the floor for five days listening to Nora Jones as our hearts began to heal.

11. "Wild Thing" - performed by The Toggs

Ok...this one might seem like an odd choice but it has history! I was a teenager in the 70's and Wild Thing was a song everybody liked - I know I did. Well, apparently I was liberal in teaching my son as a toddler, songs of my teen years! I will never forget picking my sweet, angelic faced boy up from Kindergarten each day and before I got to the door I could see him peeking out watching for me. He was a Mama's boy and the first to admit it, then and now! By the time I was within 30 feet of the door I could hear him belting out...

"wild thing...you make my heart sing...you make everything gooovy...wild thing...wild thing, I think I love you."

I will love that memory forever!

Our children went to a private Christian school and I could also see a pinch faced, sour looking kindergarten teacher standing over him with a look of total disgust that my child was singing such a song and that he had told her I was the one who taught it to him! (No offense to those who are involved with Christian schools - ours was a baaaaad experience, though I am sure many of them are quite wonderful.) Honest, if you listen to the song, there really is nothing inappropriate about it!

12. "Here and Now" - performed by Luthor Vandross

First of all, it is just a beautiful, beautiful song performed by the master of love songs. My daughter and son-in-law danced their first dance at their wedding reception to this song. It was precious.

So those are the songs on my play list and why I chose them. I believe we attach memories to music and whenever we hear those special songs again we are gifted to relive those wonderful days of the past again and again and again!

A Thankful, Precious Celebration

As you read this post I am with my parents, celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. It is truly a joyous occasion because they love each other more today than they did on their wedding day 60 years ago. I watch them at times and they are in totally sync. They think alike, they move at the same time to do the same thing, they laugh at the same moment...I'm convinced they read each others minds. I have attempted a few breathless times to imagine one of them without the other and I simply can't. For now, I am celebrating having two wonderful parents who have stayed together through joy and hardship to build a legacy of love for all of us who watch in awe. I include some pictures of Mom and Dad on their wedding day and some more in the present, still sweethearts.

This precious picture is Mom and Dad on their wedding day. Didn't she look beautiful in her lovely satin gown? The dress still rests in tissue paper along with Mother's veil and satin shoes. I am one of three sisters and I have one daughter. Before each of us married mother brought out her precious wedding gown and carefully unwrapped it from it's protective layers. She helped each prospective bride into her gown and buttoned the million satin covered buttons up the back - as far as they would close! As it turns out not one of us could fit into her 20 inch waist! Mother enjoyed that immensely! Both Mom and Dad still remember every detail of their day, right down to the the little tear in the waist of Mothers dress. As they ran from the church among fluttering rice Daddy stepped on the hem. The moment was caught and rests in their wedding photo album, both of them looking at each other, laughing and not caring about anything but their love for one another. I have never known a man to love a woman more than my father loves my mother. And, oh, look at that sweet little cake! The bride and groom atop it in the photograph is in a box in their home today. The reception was held in my grandparents home. I've posted before about my memories of the elegant home with gorgeous furniture, linens, and crystal. I don't know if you can see it clearly enough in the picture or not, but just above the wedding cake and to my mom's right there is mirror hanging over a dining buffet table. That mirror now hangs in my parents home over their dining buffet.

Here Mom and Dad are with my grandchildren, December 2007.

Dad, a nature lover, sitting by one of his beloved mountain streams. I cherish my father for the gentle and kind man of God he is.

Mom and Dad, March 2008. We had such a lovely day with them, walking along some of the beautiful pathways in the Smoky Mountains.

I think I shall close my post now and schedule its delivery before I melt into a heap of tears just thinking about the fairy tale my parents are!